"Scientific education ought to teach us to see the invisible as wellas the visible in nature."--_John Tyndall_.[10]

There used to live in England a famous scientist named Tyndall, whowas interested, among other things, in the study of sound. He studiedsounds of all kinds, made experiments with them, wrote down what heobserved, and out of it all he wrote a book,[11] useful to all whodesire to learn about sound and its nature.

One day, Tyndall and a friend were walking up one of the mountains ofthe Alps.[12] As they ascended the path, Tyndall's attention wasattracted by a shrill sound, which seemed to come from the ground athis feet. Being a trained thinker he was at once curious to know whatwas the cause of this. By looking carefully he found that it came froma myriad of small insects which swarmed by the side of the path.Having satisfied himself as to what it was he spoke to his companionabout the shrill tone and was surprised to learn that he could nothear it. Tyndall's friend could hear all ordinary sound perfectlywell. This, however, seemed to be sound of such a character as did notreach his sense of hearing. One who like Tyndall listened carefully tosounds of all kinds would quickly detect anything uncommon. Thislittle incident teaches us that sounds may go on about us and yet weknow nothing of them. Also it teaches us to think about tones, seekthem, and in the first days increase our acquaintance and familiaritywith them.

Men of science, who study the different ways in which the mind works,tell us that habit and also a busy mind frequently make us unconsciousof many things about us. Sometimes we have not noticed the clockstrike, although we have been in the room on the hour; or some onespeaks to us, and because we are thinking of something else we fail tohear what is said to us. It certainly is true that very many people donot hear half of the sounds that go on about them, sounds which, ifbut heeded, would teach people a great deal. And of all people, thosewho study music should be particularly attentive to sounds of allkinds. Indeed, the only way to begin a music education is to begin bylearning to listen. Robert Schumann, a German composer, once wrote aset of rules for young musicians. As it was Schumann's habit to writeonly what was absolutely needed we may be sure he regarded his rulesas very important. There are sixty-eight of them, and the very firsthas reference to taking particular notice of the tones about us. If welearn it from memory we shall understand it better and think of itoftener. Besides that, we shall have memorized the serious thought ofa truly good and great man. This is what he says:

"The cultivation of the ear is of the greatest importance. Endeavorearly to distinguish each tone and key. Find out the exact tonesounded by the bell, the glass, and the cuckoo."

There is certainly a good hint in this. Let us follow it day by day,and we shall see how many are the tones about us which we scarcelyever notice. We should frequently listen and find who of us candistinguish the greatest number of different sounds. Then we shalllearn to listen attentively to sounds and noises. Bit by bit allsounds, especially beautiful ones, will take on a new and deepermeaning to us; they will be full of a previously unrecognized beautywhich will teach us to love music more and more sincerely.